Ball-and-socket joint.



L. WBSSEL.

BALL AND SOCKET JOINT.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 25, 1907.

978,091 Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcn.

LOUIS WESSEL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CINCINNATI BALL C ICOMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION.

BLANK BALL-AND-SOCKET JOINT.

i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS WESSEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-and-SocketJoints, of

. which the followin is a specification.

My invention re ates to an improvement in a ball and socket jointprimarily employed in steering mechanism for vehicles.

The object of my invention is to provide a ball and socket joint,wherein one or more.

of the sockets are yieldingly held in position against the ball, andmeans for adjusting the tension against the sockets.

Various other features of my invention relate to the peculiarconstruction which will be more fully set forth in the description ofthe accompanying drawings formlng a part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 is a central vertical section illustrating my improved ball andsocket joint.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig.

3 is a central section illustrating two sockets yieldingly mounted. Fig.4 is a perspective view of one of the socket members.

In the drawings I have shown only so much of the steering mechanism forvehicles as disclose my invention, the joint being preferably employedin connecting the depending arm actuated by the steerin 'wheel andgearing with the connecting r0 carried forward to lever mechanismconnecting with the front wheels of a vehicle. I

1 represents the arm depending from suitable steering gearing providedat its free end with the ball 2.

3 represents a sleeve into which the arm l and ball 2 project and intowhich sleeve the connecting rod 4 is secured, the arm 1 pro jectingtirough a slot 5 formed 'in the sleeve 3.

6, (Fig. 1) represents a stationary socket formed inthe sleeve 3 againstwhich a portion of the periphery of the ball '2 bears.

7 represents a movable socket member bearing against-a portion of theeripherv of the ball 2 and mounted within the sleeve 3.

8 represents a notch formed in the socket member 7 through which a taperpin 9 I passes, vhaving hearing within the sleeve 3 for preventing thesocket member 7 from turning within the sleeve.

V Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 25, 1907. Serial No. 403,700. 7

'for adjusting the tension of sprin Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

10 represents a notch formed in the socket member 7 in alinement withthe slot 5 of the sleeve 3 permitting the arm 1 to have a given radiusof movement.

11 represents a cap screw threaded upon the sleeve 3.

12 represents an adjusting plug screw threaded within the cap 11 formingmeans 13 against the socket member 7. The a justing plug 12 is providedwith the cross grooves 14 through which a lock pin is inserted formaintaining the lug 1n itsadjusted position. Thus to ad ust the tensionand sockets relative to the ball, the lock pin 15 is removed and thescrew plug adjusted as desired. The pin 9 forms a lock for reventing thecap 11 from coming detached.

In the form shown in Fig. 3 the sleeve 3 is made of larger lengthpermitting the insertion of a second ylelding socket member 16 providedwith a stem 17 slotted at its free end through which a pin 18 passes toprevent the socket member turning. 19 represents a spring encirclingsaid stem 17 bearing a ainst the socket member 16 and the shoul er 20formed within the sleeve, the forward end of the socket connection beingconstructed identically as that shown in fiaving described my invention,I claim In a ball and socket joint, a sleeve, two socket members in thesleeve, one of which is lon itudinally movable, the sleeve and movab esocket member each provided with a slot, an arm having a ball endengaging between said socket members with the arm projecting throughsaid slots to limit the movement thereof, a pin projectin through saidsleeve and a notch in the move le socket member to hold the same againstrotation, a spring for exerting tension against said movable socketmember, and a combined cap and adjusting plu adjustable on the end ofthe sleeve to adjust the tension of said spring, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

LoUIs WESSEL.

